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THE 




I'EEt'ARED BY KECOMMEXDATK1X OF THE 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 

AND DELIVERED IN THE 

SECOND PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH, 

PEORIA, ILLINOIS, 

Ox SUNDAY, JULY 2d, 1876, 
By Kev. LEWIS O. THOMPSON, Pastor. 



PEORIA, ILLINOIS: 

N. C. NASON, PRINTER, ADAMS STREET, CORNER HARRISON. 

1876. 



THE 



SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



A Centennial Historic Discourse, 



PREPARED BY RECOMMENDATION OF THE 



GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 



AND DELIVERED IN THE 



SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 



PEORIA, ILLINOIS, 



On SUNDAY, JULY 2d, 1876, 



By Rev. LEWIS O. THOMPSON, Pastor. 



°f WASH ^ 



PEORIA, ILLINOIS: 
N. C. NASON, PRINTER, ADAMS STREET, CORNER HARRISON. 
1876. 



CORRESPONDENCE 



Peoria, July 3d, 1876. 

Rev. Lewis O. Thompson, 

Pastor Second Presbyterian Church. 

Dear Sir: 

The Session of your church, believing the sermon preached 
by you on the first Sabbath of July to be a correct history of the church 
to the present time, request that you will furnish us with a copy for pub- 
lication. 

Respectfully yours, 

J. 0. GRIER, 1 
JNO. A. McCOY, I 

david Mcculloch. \- session. 

ARTHUR H. RUGG, 
T. G. McCULLOH, Jr. 



Peoria, July 4th, 1876. 

Dear Brethren: 

In reply to your note requesting a copy of this address for 
publication, I ought to state that it was prepared first of all with refer- 
ence to delivery, rather than the printed page. I supposed the dust 
would quietly settle upon it as it should rest upon the shelves of the 
Historical Society. 

However, you are heartily welcome to take and print it, and I pray 
that a blessing may accompany this record of - what the Second Church 
is and has been. 

Yours truly, 

LEWIS 0. THOMPSON. 

Elder John C. Grier, 1 
" John A. McCoy, 
" David McCulloch, [ Session. 
" A. H. Rugg, 
" T. G. McCulloh, Jr., J 



"What house will ye build me? saith the Lord." — Acts 7: 49. 

The history of the Second Presbyterian Church of Peo- 
ria, 111., during its twenty-three and a half years of exist- 
ence, both collectively and individually, is an attempt to 
answer this question. History started originally at one 
fountain, but has since flowed out into many separate 
branches through all the world. There is nothing on earth 
that stands absolutely unconnected with something preced- 
ing. We are not always able to trace the connection and 
discover the source from whence causes have issued. Al- 
ternately effect -is cause, and cause effect. Our church 
starts from the First Church of Peoria. That is as far 
back as we need go to learn who or what we are. The 
First Church will trace their course back to their origin, 
and thus to-day the great Presbyterian Church of our land 
is busy sailing up and down the historic stream of time. 
When all these discourses, like so many convoying barks, 
are safely anchored at their haven in the building of the 
Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, we may 
imagine something like a complete history, so far as that 
is possible, or the material for one, will have been secured 
for our denomination, at least during its previous years of 
existence upon this western continent. 

ORGANIZATION. 

A statement prepared by the first pastor of this church 
informs us of the steps taken for its organization. 

"On the first Sabbath of August, 1853, Mr. Farris en- 
tered on his duties as temporary supply of the First 



[4] 

Church. This arrangement continued until the middle of 
the following November; when, Mr. Coffey's health having 
been restored, the Session unanimously deemed it advisable 
that the necessary measures be taken immediately to set 
on foot a new enterprise; whereupon the Session resolved 
that the Moderator of the Presbytery of Peoria be regu- 
larly requested to call a meeting of said Presbytery as soon 
as practicable, and advised Dr. Farris to labor, in the mean- 
while, as an evangelist. Obedient to the call of the Mod- 
erator, the Presbytery of Peoria met in the lecture-room 
of the First Presbyterian Church, Peoria, on Wednesday, 
December 7th, 1853, at 7 o'clock p.m. 

" The Presbytery was opened with a sermon by Rev. W. 
T. Adams, of Washington, from 1 Chron., 29: 3 — <I have 
set my affection to the house of my God.' After which 
the Moderator, Rev. Wm. P. Carson, took the chair, and 
on his calling for the business for which the Presbytery 
had met, the following petition was presented by Elder 
John C. Crier : 

"Presbytery of Peoria: The undersigned, desirous to have the privilege 
of Divine Worship more extended, respectfully petition your venerable 
body to organize, in the City of Peoria, a second Presbyterian Church." 

This paper was signed by 28 as members of the church 
and 24 as members of the congregation. Their request 
was granted, and the aforesaid church was ordered to be 
formed by a committee of the Presbytery. There was 
thus an aggregate of 52 names that withdrew from the 
First Church to engage, under the blessing of God, in this 
new organization. 

The "upper room" on the S.W. corner of Madison and 
Main streets, then known as Haskell's Hall, over " Every 
body's Grocery," was first used by the congregation as a 
temporary place of worship for morning service. In the 
following year, 1854, the lots on the W. corner of Madi- 
son and Jackson streets were purchased by the Trustees, 
and a contract was let the same year for erecting the pres- 
ent main building of our church edifice. The work was 



m 

at once commenced, and the building, with the exception of 
tower and spire, was completed June, 1855. The first ser- 
mon was preached by the pastor on Sabbath, July 1st, 1855, 
from the text, Ec. 5 :1, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to 
the house of God." The dedication sermon was preached 
on the Sabbath following, from 1 Cor., 2:2, " For I deter- 
mined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ 
and Him crucified." 

Since then additions have been made to the church edi- 
fice. In the summer of 1873 the sum of $4500, headed by 
two subscriptions of $500 each, was generously given for 
the erection of a lecture-room. The entire, work, includ- 
ing the raising of the main building two feet, and the com- 
pletion of the tower and spire and the painting of the 
entire building, was finished by the first of January, 1874, 
at a total cost of $7103. 

The organ was purchased in May, 1872, argd put up in 
its place at a total cost of $1808. Other necessary im- 
provements were made from time to time, and, through the 
liberality of its friends, the Second Presbyterian Church 
in its material resources stands such as you see it to-day. 

The plea for the origin of this church sets forth the 
spirit which animated its members, — " desirous to have the 
privileges of Divine Worship more extended"; there is 
nothing sectional in that, nor any disposition to pull down 
other churches. Our relations with all evangelical churches 
of this city are of the most cordial nature. As in apostolic 
days " the word of God grew and multiplied," so also here. 
Peoria was a growing city, and in laying the foundation for 
another church, the original members hoped to provide for 
the spiritual interests of this "Prairie City" and extend 
the influence of the gospel. And subsequent events, in the 
Providence of God, have justified their wisdom, for now we 
have not merely First and Second Presbyterian Churches, 
but on the right and left of us, flanking the city, the two 
young and hopeful churches of our faith, Calvary and 
Grace Mission. We are entitled to claim these two 



[6] 



churches as the spiritual children of the Second Presby- 
terian Church; for both grew out of Mission Sabbath 
Schools, and the Mission Sabbath Schools were started and 
led by members of this church. Mr. Wm. Reynolds, Eld- 
ers John A. McCoy and T. G. McCulloh, sr., opened a 
Mission School at Bergan Hall. Elder T. G. McCulloh, 
sr., was the first Superintendent. The pecuniary support 
needed for the work was voted and supplied by the Trust- 
ees of this church. The Calvary Church grew out of this 
school whose sessions were first held in Bergan Hall. At 
this time Mr. Wm. Reynolds was a member of the Second 
Church, and when Calvary Church was instituted four of 
our members went to unite in its formation. The petition 
for its organization was carried to the Presbytery by Dr. 
Wm. E. McLaren, then Pastor of this church. 

Some time later Grace Mission had a similar origin. 
The C. P. I. & P. Railroad used to leave some of its passen- 
ger coaches to stand on the track over Sabbath. Elder 
John C. Grier went to the Superintendent of the road and 
secured one of these cars in which to start and hold a Sab- 
bath school. Elder T. G. McCulloh, sr., and Mr. Daniel W. 
McWilliams opened that school in one of these coaches, 
while Elder John A. McCoy stood on the outside to keep 
the boys who would not come to the school from throwing 
stones and breaking the windows. After a while one car 
was not enough, and they got another; and so the work 
grew and prospered. When Mr. McWilliams left the city 
and the enterprise, he was succeeded by Mr. Geo. H. Mcll- 
vaine in the superintendency of the school. Both these 
brethren were members of the Second Church. This 
school grew into Grace Mission Church, and when it was 
organized seven of its members went from our church. 
Unless objection is made by the churches themselves, we 
shall claim them as branches of the Second Presbyterian 
Church. At all events, we say " The Lord bless you and 
keep you." 

The members of this church who are still living in its 



[7] 



communion have been permitted to lay the foundations of 
three churches, and see this city grow up from a mere 
handful to its present proportions of wealth, influence and 
power. 

An incident or two will illustrate the rapid growth of 
the West and how cities spring up as by enchantment. 
Rev. C. L. "Watson, who spent a long and useful life in the 
active work of the ministry, and who has now come to 
spend the decline of life in our city, was probably the sec- 
ond man to preach a protestant discourse here, and that 
was in 1829. He was then a home missionary of the Pres- 
byterian Church. He preached in the Court House, an 
unpretentious log-hut, 16 by 14, located on the bank of the 
river, and his audience, morning and evening, was com- 
posed of twelve persons. The population of the place at 
that time was about thirty. It is believed that the first 
protestant to preach in this region was the Rev. Mr. Walker, 
a Methodist preacher, who came here to establish a mission 
among the Peoria Indians in 1826. Father Marquette was 
here in 1673; Father Hennepin in 1680. Catholic mission- 
aries had made some converts among the Indians who re- 
sided along the banks of Peoria Lake; but Mr. Walker's 
project failed from a peculiar admission which he deemed 
it politic to make. 

He was asked ." If he did not think good Indians went 
to heaven when they died." 

He replied in the affirmative. 

"Are there not more good men among the Indians than 
among the whites ? " his Indian questioner next asked him. 
Mr. Walker answered " Yes." 

"Well, then," said the Indian, "do n't you think that the 
Indians ought to go and teach the whites ? " That put an 
end to his mission. 

But times change, and we change with them. Peoria is 
to-day a populous city, the second in the State. The red 
man no longer frequents the banks of the lake or walks 
our streets; the old log-cabin court house is gone, and 



[8] 



even its successor, the brick court house, has just been 
demolished and removed from the public square to give 
place to a still larger and more costly building. "We have 
not reached the limits of growth, and in building churches 
we must look to the wants of the future as well as the re- 
quirements of the present. The last quarter of this century 
will witness changes equally great with those that have 
taken place in the one just 'closed and contemporaneous 
with the history of this church. The past is prophet of the 
future. How great, then, is the work opening out to these 
four Presbyterian churches and other evangelical organi- 
zations, to preach the Gospel, to gather children into. 
Sabbath schools for Christian instruction and conversion, 
and to prosecute those noble enterprises of love and benefi- 
cence which Christianity originates, fosters and perpetuates. 
When the first white settlement was made here in 1680 
by the heroic LaSalle, assisted by Tonti and Father Henne- 
pin, they built a fort and named it Creve-coeur, " broken- 
hearted." When Fort Clark was built in 1813 by the 
Americans for the security of the place against .unfriendly 
Indians, the flag that floated over it displayed to the breeze 
the stars and stripes as an emblem of power, authority and 
protection. 

To-clay the place is called neither "Broken-hearted" nor 
Fort Clark, but Peoria, with its twenty -five or thirty 
churches holding up the standard of the cross, and offers 
peace, grace, mercy, good will and protection to all. We 
have received our orders; we claim and want Peoria for 
Christ. 

" See the glorious banner waving, 
Hear the bugle blow; 
In our Leader's name we '11 triumph 
Oyer every foe." 

MEMBERSHIP. 

The church was organized with a membership of twen- 
ty-eight. • Accessions have been made to this number as 
follows : 



[9] 



In 1854, ten; in 1855, eighteen; in 1856, twenty-nine; 
in 1857, six; in 1858, fifteen; in 1859, eight; in 1860, nine; 
in 1861, eleven; in 1862, fifteen; in 1863, nine; in 1864, 
twenty; in 1865, twenty-two; in 1866, seventy-two; in 
1867, twenty-eight; in 1868, seventeen; in 1869, seventeen; 
in 1870, eleven; in 1871, six; in 1872, eight; in 1873, eight; 
in 1874, seven; in 1875, twenty-four; and during the first 
quarter of 1876, five; in all, 403 members. Of this number 
184 have united on profession of faith, and 219 have come 
by letter from other churches. The membership at present 
is 175. 

PASTOEATE. 

The first pastor of this church was the Rev. R. P. F arris, 
who came here from St. Louis, in July, 1853, by invitation 
of the Session of the First Church, to supply their pulpit 
during the illness of the pastor, the Rev. Addison Coffey. 
In November his health was so far restored that Mr. Coffey 
was able to officiate in his own pulpit, and thereupon Dr. 
Farris was invited " to direct his efforts towards the forma- 
tion of another church." After the church was organized, 
he was invited to act as stated supply; and having been 
afterwards elected pastor, he was installed, by order of the 
Presbytery, on Sabbath, August 12th, 1855. Rev. F. JST. 
Ewing, of Bloomington, presided, proposed the questions, 
and delivered the charge to the people. Rev.W. T. Adams, 
of Washington, preached the sermon and delivered the 
charge to the pastor. On account of declining health, it 
became necessary for Dr. Farris to resign the pastorate, 
and on October 25th, 1858, he gave his resignation to the 
Session, and stated the reasons which led him to take that 
step. A meeting of the congregation was held November 
3d, and it was resolved that the church join with the pas- 
tor in a request to the Presbytery to dissolve the relation. 

His service of five years was now followed by a short 
period when the pulpit was supplied by different brethren, 
until, on June 8th, 1859, a meeting of the congregation was 
held and the Rev. Samuel Hibben was unanimously elected 
2 



[10] 



pastor. The installation services were conducted by Dr. 
L. Rice, who preached the sermon and gave the charge to 
the people, and Rev. John Winn, who gave the charge to 
the pastor. He ministered in spiritual things, to the great 
edification and acceptance of the Church, until his .health 
was so much impaired that he was obliged to seek rest and 
change. The Session received his resignation February 
6th, 1862, and the request was reluctantly granted by the 
Church on February 8th. On* the dissolution of the pas- 
toral relation, we learn from the Presbyterian Almanac for 
1863, he was elected Chaplain of the Fourth Illinois Cav- 
alry Regiment. He accepted, desirous to still serve the 
Master, and thinking that the change in his manner of 
life might possibly benefit his health. But the sufferings 
incident to war, and the peculiar sympathy called for in a 
Chaplain ministering to the sick and wounded, proved a 
drain upon his finely-strung and sensitive organization that 
aggravated rather than relieved his own infirmity, and 
"his frail health succumbed to the disease contracted in 
the hospitals." In the providence of God, he was per- 
mitted to return to his home in this city, and to " fall on 
sleep " June 10th, 1862, in the full assurance of that faith 
which he . had so eloquently and lovingly preached to 
others. A very glowing and appreciative tribute to his 
worth and genius was. published in the Almanac referred 
to, and from the portrait which accompanies it, we should 
judge that he would have had a career of remarkable use- 
fulness in the Christian ministry, had vigor of body sup- 
ported vigor of mind. He had a sympathizing heart, a 
speaking mouth, a benign and radiant countenance, and a 
vigorous intellect. He died in his 29th year; but life and 
its achievements are not gauged by length of days.* 

"We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; 
In feelings, not in figures on a dial. 
We should count time by heart-throbs: 

He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." 
* Facts and quotations from Historical Almanac. 



[11] 



The church was now without a pastor for over a year; 
but was supplied by the Revs. Messrs. Doane, Caldwell, and 
Sanford H. Smith. 

Rev. A. A. C. Taylor was chosen pastor June 29th, 1863, 
but did not accept. 

A call was then tendered to Rev. J. S. Frame, August 
26th, but was likewise declined. 

On October 14th, 1863, Dr. W. E. McLaren was elected 
to the pastorate. He accepted the charge,' and was in- 
stalled May 8th, 1864. On October 29th, 1866, he tend- 
ered his resignation, which was accepted, although he did 
not cease to preach to the church until April, 1867. 

His successor was Dr. H. V. D. Nevius, who was first en- 
gaged as stated supply for one year from June 10th, 1867, 
and then elected as pastor in November, and as such in- 
stalled by order of the Presbytery. He handed in his 
resignation for the second time on October 9th, 1872, and 
on Sabbath morning of October 27th closed his pastorate 
of five years. 

After this the pulpit was temporarily supplied until Sab- 
bath, February 16th, 1873, when Rev. W. L. Green began 
his service as stated supply. He was elected pastor Janu- 
ary 28th, 1874, but was not installed until Sabbath, Octo- 
ber 25th, 1874. His resignation was given by letter to the 
Session February 13th, and presented to the congregation 
on the 21st of February, 1875. On the Wednesday even- 
ing following, at a congregational meeting, some resolutions 
were passed " to express the warm regards of the church 
for Rev. W. L. Green." During the vacancy a call was 
sent to Rev. Thos. X. Orr, April 28th, 1875, which was 
declined. 

The pulpit in the meantime was chiefly and ably sup- 
plied by the Rev. W. B. Mcllvaine, of Peoria, until Janu- 
ary 5th, 1876, when Rev. Lewis 0. Thompson, the present 
incumbent, was elected to the pastorate. On his accept- 
ance, he was installed on Thursday, May 4th, by a com- 
mittee of the Presbytery, consisting of Dr. Jonathan Ed- 



[12] 



wards, who presided and gave the charge to the pastor, 
Rev. Mr. McCime, who preached the sermon, and Rev. Mr. 
Cornelison, who gave the charge to the people. 

THE ELDERSHIP. 

The Session of the church was constituted by the elec- 
tion of John L. Griswold and J. C. Grier as Ruling Elders. 
The first meeting was held December 10th, 1853. On 
Wednesday evening, September 26th, 1855, the church 
chose four additional elders, viz : Elijah Scott, S. S. Clarke, 
Thos. G. McCulloh, sr., and John A. McCoy, who were 
ordained and installed on the Sabbath following. In the 
course of time Elders Griswold, McCulloh, Scott and 
Clarke having transferred their connection to other 
churches, on December 7th, 1870, David McCulloch, J. W. 
Cochran, A. H. Rugg and T. G. McCulloh, jr., were 
elected as Ruling Elders, and on January 14th, 1871, all 
but Judge Cochran, who declined the office, were regu- 
larly ordained and installed. Mr. S. C. Conger was elected 
an elder December 16th, and installed December 20th, 
1874. He served the church in that office until he removed 
to Carmi and transferred his membership to that place. 
The Session as at present constituted consists of Elders J. 
C. Grier, John A. McCoy, David McCulloch, A. H. Rugg, 
and T. G. McCulloh, jr. 

DEACONS. 

The Diaconate has not had a very full representation in 
this church. Wm. Stettinius and George Porter, having 
been duly elected, were installed as deacons on Sabbath, 
December 18th, 1853. As these brethren have transferred 
their membership to other churches, and no election has 
been held to take their place, the office is now vacant. 

BOAED OF TRUSTEES. 
At a meeting of the congregation held December 14th, 
1853, it was resolved that the number of Trustees be nine, 
and the following names were elected : John L. Griswold, 



[13] 



N. B. Curtiss, H. I. Rugg, W. A. Herron, Eob't A. Smith, 
¥m. F. Bryan, J. C. Grier, A. G. Curtenius, and John A, 
McCoy. 

The Board of Trustees this year is composed of the fol- 
lowing gentlemen : J. D. McClure, J. A. Chalmers, E. C. 
Ely, J. G. Miles, D. L. Bigham, R. C. Grier, A. R. Thomp- 
son, Eliot Callender, and T. G. McCulloh, jr. It is due to 
the care and prudence of the Board that so pleasant a loca- 
tion has been secured for our church, and the entire place 
made so attractive and home-like. 

SABBATH SCHOOL. 

Our Sabbath School was organized January 1st, 1854, 
with the following roll : teachers 10, and scholars 31. 
John L. Griswold was chosen Superintendent; John A. 
McCoy, Assistant Superintendent; David W. Herron, Sec- 
retary and Treasurer; and R. J. Swancoat, Librarian. Since 
then we have had as Superintendents, John A. McCoy, T. 

G. McCulloh, sr., David McCulloch, ¥m. Jack, Arthur 

H. Rugg, and David McCulloch. The officers of the Sab- 
bath School at present are : David McCulloch, Superintend- 
ent; Mrs. Elizabeth G. Hibben and Eliot Callender, Assist- 
ant Superintendents; Col. John D. McClure, Librarian; 
and George Bryan, Secretary and Treasurer. 

It is now 95 years ago since Robert Raikes founded the 
first Sabbath School in England, so that the Sabbath 
Schools of our land and England have not yet reached 
their centennial; but it is impossible to estimate the good 
they have done, the influence they have exerted upon pub- 
lic morals and general education, and the facilities they 
have opened as another school of the prophets for pro- 
ficiency in the knowledge of the Word of God. Would 
that the entire church were enrolled among its members; 
that we might all become more and more deeply versed in 
the mysteries of salvation. A Bible-reading, a Bible-study- 
ing church will grow in grace and in the knowledge of the 
truth. 



[14] 

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. 
The Ladies 7 Industrial Society, which was informally 
organized in connection with the church during the spring 
of 1870, was reorganized in January, 1871, when a Con- 
stitution was adopted and officers were elected. Its object 
has been to supply destitute children of the Sabbath School 
with clothing, and to teach the children how to sew and 
make their own garments. A good work has been carried 
forward by the ladies having this school in charge. 

MISSION BAND. 

In January of this year a Mission Band was organized 
by Mrs. R. C. Grier from the scholars of the Sabbath 
School, and called the " Light Bearers." Its meetings are 
held monthly. Its main object is to learn by original in- 
vestigation the needs of the missionary world, to educate 
the children to take an interest in sending the gospel to 
heathen children, and by monthly contributions to help 
the missionary of the cross preach the glad tidings of sal- 
vation. It is organized for work with the following offi- 
cers : President, Mrs. R. C. Grier; Vice-Presidents, Miss 
Maria L. Thrush, Miss Jessie L. Perry, Edward D. McCul- 
loch, and James Miles; Secretary, Miss Anna Walker; 
Corresponding Secretary, Norman Smith; Treasurer, J. 
Grier Hibben. This Band has a monthly missionary con- 
cert, and sustain the exercises themselves under the leader- 
ship of their President. As the youth of our congrega- 
tion grow up in this society, they will have an intelligent 
appreciation of what constitutes the missionary field of the 
world, how large it is, what resources are required for the 
work, and the duty of the church in this direction. 

LADIES' SOCIABLES. 

I can not speak at length on the social life of the church. 
I hope we have that characteristic which St. James writes 
about in his Epistle : "Pure religion and undefiled, before 
God and the Father, is this : To visit the fatherless and 



[15] 



widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted 
from the world." I trust we are reasonably free from all 
such gossip as the Scriptures denounce, and which has a 
tendency, not to bind hearts closer in the golden chain of 
Christian love and fellowship, but to breed jealousies, rival- 
ries and ill-will. " Let our conversation be as becometh 
the gospel." " So be ye holy in all manner of conversa- 
tion." a Let your speech be al way with grace, seasoned 
with salt." 

The Ladies' Sociable of our church for eight or ten 
years past, since its organization, has been an effort in this 
direction : to cultivate kindness, social courtesy, and the 
graces of speech. They have been held monthly, except 
during the heat of summer, and have provided refresh- 
ments for all who .came. These sociables , have called out 
a good deal of zeal and self-denial on the part of the ladies 
who have had them in charge, and have probably netted 
some §3000 during their continuance, besides the social en- 
tertainments they have been the occasion of producing. 
With this money three carpets have been purchased for the 
church (one of them was stolen just after it was put down !), 
and one for the lecture-room; articles and goods have been 
purchased for the Industrial School; a wire-fence has been 
put up around the church lot, and other improvements 
have been made as needed. These sociables were preceded 
by a sewing society, whose main object was to prepare 
boxes for home missionaries and their families. 

FINANCIAL. 

This church has also taken a prominent part in works of 
benevolence, and has contributed liberally to the various 
Boards of the General Assembly. If we take the last six 
years as a guide, this church from its origin to the present 
has contributed about $100,000. This is spoken of that 
we may be stimulated to still greater liberality. This 
church in the next quarter ought to give more than this 
and not less. We have just adopted a plan of weekly offer- 



[16] 



ings by envelopes. "Many littles make a mickle." We 
are beginning to give systematically and regularly (1 Cor., 
xvi :2), and as a part of our worship (Deut. xxvi :9, 10). 

PRAYER MEETING. 
Nor must we forget the week-day prayer meeting. It 
was ordered by the Session at their first meeting that every 
Wednesday evening should be observed for the general 
prayer meeting of the church. Accordingly, the first prayer 
meeting of our church was held on Wednesday, December 
14th, 1853. The name for Wednesday in German is still 
more expressive, as it recognizes the septenary division of 
time, and makes Sunday the first day of the week. It is 
'Mittwoch', 'middle of the week'. A public prayer meet- 
ing on the mid-day of the week is a most appropriate time. 
It is like an oasis in the desert — a place in which to sit 
down and rest and breathe, and be spiritually refreshed. 
Has not Christ met with you in these prayer meetings, lo, 
these many years ? Has not the Holy Spirit moved upon 
your hearts, enlightened the understanding, removed your 
burdens, purified your affections, granted grace for the con- 
duct of life, strength for its conflicts, wisdom for its trials, 
victory over its temptations, and made you feel truly "it is 
good for us to be here" ? 

"Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
That calls me from a world of care, 
And bids me at my Father's throne 
Make all my wants and wishes known ; 
In seasons of distress and grief 
My soul has often found relief, 
And oft escaped the tempter's snare 
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer! " 

ORDINANCES. 

The ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper were 
administered for the first time on Sabbath, February 12th, 
1854, when three were baptized and two persons admitted 
to their first communion. "Do this in remembrance of 
me." " They which are of faith, the same are the children 



[17] 



of Abraham." " For the promise is unto you and to your 
children." In baptism we bring our children into cove- 
nant relation with God, and claim for them "the promise." 
Have not these seasons been hallowed moments in your 
Christian life, when penitential tears, confessions of sin and 
unworthiness, new vows, new consecrations and renewed 
trust in Christ have witnessed their solemnity and the 
reality of your profession ? 

REMEMBER THE DEAD. 
And as memory is thus busy with the associations of the 
past, there arise before you the forms of the departed, those 
that have crossed the river, whom you loved to meet around 
this table and before this pulpit. Little children, too, have 
gone to unite with the great throng of the holy and blest 
who to-day worship God around His throne in Heaven 
above. Oh, the dead ! Oh, the departed ! who cau speak 
the words that shall tell how much of life they were to you, 
and how great a part of your own existence ? But these 
holy associations that have been sundered on earth shall be 
renewed in heaven. 

" Shall we know each other ever 
In that land? 
Shall we know each other ever 
In that happy land? 
Yes! oh, yes! in that land, that happy land, 
They that meet shall know each other, 
Far beyond the rolling river, 
Meet to sing and love forever 
In that happy land." 

CONTEMPORANEOUS EVENTS. 
We should measure time not by the years which come 
and go, but by the events which fill them. The history of 
this church runs parallel with the administrations of Presi- 
dents Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, and Grant. The 
year before this church was organized, Napoleon pro- 
claimed himself Emperor of France. Our territory has 
been enlarged by the Gadsden purchase from Mexico for 
$10,000,000, and the Seward purchase of Alaska from Eus- 
3 



[18] 

si a for $7,200,000. Great wars and revolutions have shaken 
the earth : the Crimean war, the mutiny in India against 
the power of. England, the Italian war, which has restored 
and reunited Italy, the civil war in America and a pre- 
served nationality, the war in Mexico and the overthrow 
of the Empire of Maximilian the unhappy, the Schleswig- 
Holstein war between Denmark and Prussia, the Franco- 
Prussian war and a restored Germany, and the continued 
battles among savages in barbarous lands, have marked 
this era. This period has witnessed embassies to Japan 
and China, to and from, and treaties of peace. This period 
has witnessed the overthrow of the temporal power of 
Rome; for to-day there is no land under the sun that 
acknowledges the Pope to be more than a spiritual prince. 
This period has witnessed the manumission of the serfs of 
Russia and the abolition of slavery in our own land. This 
period has witnessed the laying of oceanic cables and the 
building of the Pacific Railway across our continent. This 
period has witnessed the admission of six new states into 
the Union. This period has witnessed an increase which 
has nearly doubled the population of our land. This period 
has witnessed the return of the New and Old School As- 
semblies to form the Great Presbyterian Church of Amer- 
ica. This period has witnessed two great revivals. This 
period has witnessed an unexpected progress in the admis- 
sion of missionaries to foreign and exclusive lands. These 
are but catch-words that will call up the great and stirring 
events that have been contemporaneous with the existence 
of this church and the life-time of many before me to-day. 

UNWRITTEN HISTORY HAS ITS TRANSCRIPT ON HIGH. 

But it is difficult to write the history of a church, so 
much of history is unwritten. These names and dates and 
figures will suggest to each reminiscences that are unwrit- 
ten and perhaps never can be written. Your church life, 
your social life, your domestic life, with all their lights and 
shades, who can write that? Your joys and your sorrows, 
your hopes and aspirations, what pen has made the tran- 



[19] 



script ? Every day noble thoughts are cherished, — some 
times the best never find utterance, much less a scribe; 
worthy deeds are done by the right hand of which the left 
takes no knowledge and the tongue makes no mention; 
often the tear falls and the heart sighs and the eyes glance 
upward to heaven when no friend is nigh and none but 
God sees; thoughts, words and deeds there are which find 
no historian. And we ourselves, as we look back over 
twenty-three and a half years of life, have forgotten much 
that was notable and worthy of record — so much slips 
out of our minds in this life, — and how can I, who am 
almost a stranger to this life, catch those events that to- 
day ought to have record and a tongue of praise ? But the 
full history of this church is written in heaven. "Thou 
tellest my wanderings : put thou my tears into thy bottle : 
are they not in thy book ?" God has a book of remem- 
brance, as well as a book of life and a book of judgment, 
in which are treasured all the thoughts, words and actions 
of life; and when the great day comes, the full, the com- 
plete, the accurate history of church life and all its relations 
will be unfolded and brought to your remembrance. Live, 
therefore, nobly and well. 

THE TEMPLE OF GOD. 

" What house will ye build me ? " Look to your own 
hearts. There is the true temple of God, the house He de- 
lights to dwell in. The temple of Solomon, glorious and 
costly as it was, is inferior to this. And yet that was built 
of the choicest, rarest and most enduring materials that the 
earth could furnish : gold, silver, precious stones, marble, 
cedar, fir and olive — for strength, for beauty, for endur- 
ance, for glory, the ornament of Jerusalem and the delight 
of the Jews, — and put together without sound of hammer. 
The temple we are building, the character we are fashion- 
ing, goes up silently every day of life; our thoughts, words 
and deeds are the materials which * construct and are fitted 
into it without help of axe and sound of hammer. Shall 
not we, too, even as David was careful to provide and Sol- 



[20] 



onion wise to choose for the material temple the things 
most precious and imperishable — and yet what has be- 
come of that temple? — shall not we, too, select from life's 
unnumbered thoughts, actions, duties, and responsibilities, 
those that are holiest, wisest and noblest with which to rear 
the temple that shall eternally endure ? When Cornelia, 
the illustrious mother of the Gracchi, was asked to show 
her jewels, with maternal pride she brought her sons and 
said, " these are my jewels." She had fitted them for a con- 
spicuous part in Roman history. Let us think more of 
character than of material things. Let love, joy, peace, 
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and 
temperance be the jewels with which the Holy Spirit shall 
build God's temple — which temple ye are. God grant it. 

PATRIOTIC DUTIES. 
This is the Centennial Sabbath of American Independ- 
ence. I can not let this occasion pass without speaking a 
word on our duties as citizens of this great republic. The 
church and state are here separate, not because there is 
antagonism, not because we are not a Christian people, not 
because the Christian is not a citizen, but because Christ 
said "my kingdom is not of this world." The church is 
free that she may not become secularized and take more 
interest in the nomination of Presidents, and the election 
of Governors, and the seizure of temporalities, than in 
preaching the gospel, in reclaiming man, and in pointing 
sinners the way to heaven. He who is a Christian is there- 
by a patriot and a true man, and thinks not less but more 
of his country. Religion makes a man over again, and 
bids him to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath 
made him free. Shall a heathen write of patriotism and a 
Christian not be a patriot? Cicero wrote in 'De Officiis' : 
" But when you view every thing with reason and reflec- 
tion, of all connections none is more weighty, none is more 
dear, than that between every individual and his country. 
Our parents are dear to us; our children, our kinsmen, our 
friends, are dear to us; but our country comprehends alone 



[ 21 ] 

all tlie endearments of us all. For which what good man 
would hesitate to die if he could do her service ? The more 
execrably unnatural, therefore, are they who wound their 
country by every species of guilt, and who are now and 
have been employed in her utter destruction." Remarkable 
sentiment of a heathen orator and patriot, that we do well 
to read and ponder. In the days of the Hebrew Common- 
wealth and of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, who were 
the reformers and the true patriots but fhe prophets ? From 
them came the stirring words that denounced wickedness 
in high places and reproved the people for their irreligion 
and idolatry. Let us see to it that honest men are nomi- 
nated and elected to office, that corruption shall be rooted 
out, that reform shall be inaugurated and continued. How 
shall we secure this ? By extending the influence of Chris- 
tianity; by bringing the multitudes to the Cross of Calvary, 
and making them the disciples of Christ. That will do 
the business, and do it effectually. That will send a pure 
stream through the Augean stables and purify them. It 
is only as Christianity shall be dominant, not as the religion 
of state, but dominant as the religion of individuals, that 
permanent reform will come and come to stay. Enthrone 
Christ in every heart, and our government will not be de- 
stroyed, but saved and perpetuated. Christianity is the 
only hope of our land. " Righteousness exalteth a nation, 
but sin is a reproach to any people." Religion, morality 
and education support government. They do not pull it 
down, but they exalt it by giving true foundations upon 
which to build. 

, WHAT IS ALL THIS WORTH? 

What good has this preaching done these many years, 
what does it all amount to ? Is it worth the cost ? Is it a 
paying investment ? What benefit have you received from 
all these prayer meetings, and communions, and Christian 
fellowship ? Do you remember all the sermons you have 
heard from this pulpit, the prayers that have been offered, 
the songs of love and praise that have filled these rooms 
with their melody ? What ! not able to repeat them ? And 



[22] 



do you still intend to go on in this way, to expend thou- 
sands of dollars to support the church and the ministry, at 
home and abroad, and the various enterprises of benevo- 
lence and patriotism the Presbyterian Church throughout 
the United States is actively prosecuting and fostering? 
Ah ! go, ask those who have gone to heaven from your 
communion what all this is worth. Go, ask the foreign 
missionary whom you have helped in Africa, or Asia, or 
the isles of the seas, to preach the priceless Gospel of Christ, 
how much all this comes to. Go, ask the home mission- 
ary whose heart you have cheered and whose home you 
have maintained while, by the grace of God, he has denied 
himself in order to proclaim Christ and Him crucified, and 
make of this land the inheritance of Christ, and of this 
nation the peculiar people of God, how much per cent, an 
investment of this kind pays. 

And then go, calculate how much sunshine this sanctuary 
has cast athwart the path way of your life, across the thresh- 
old of the domestic circle; go, estimate what the hopes 
and promises relating to life and eternity, which have re- 
ceived their support and sanction from this pulpit, are 
worth. Ah ! you can not do it, for the influence of even 
the smallest Christian centre goes out into the community 
and to all the earth in coming time, and shall be known 
and felt in eternity. One soul born into the kingdom of 
Christ, if that were all, under the instrumentality of this 
church, is of more value than the treasures of the earth, 
and should be given gladly and without stint. 

Sermon-hearing is much like bleaching. You lay the 
linen on the grass that the dews may fall on it, that the 
rains may sprinkle it, that the sun and wind may dry it. 
Each day it is a little whiter. The air, light and moisture 
have bleached its texture. The gracious work of the Holy 
Spirit in the soul of man is by means of the truth, "where- 
by we are renewed in the whole man after the image of 
God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and 
live unto righteousness." Though gospel sermons can not 
be recalled word for word, yet one may be as the dew and 



[23] 



another as the sun; one may he as the rain and another as 
the air; and week by week the bleaching goes on; month 
by month the soul is purified in aspiration; year by year 
the whole man is enabled "more and more to die unto sin 
and live unto righteousness," and at last the end of life is 
reached and the work is done. 

In magnifying the church we do not detract from the 
love due our homes and our country. The church sets up 
no rivalry between them, but gives to each its proper sup- 
port, sanctifying the household and stimulating patriotism. 
Under the sacred roof of home we had our birth, and it 
is endeared to us by the mutual love of father and mother, 
of brother and sister — good old words that carry so much 
meaning and tenderness to every true heart. Here was the 
family altar, an open Bible, with religious instruction, 
prayer and praise, that fill memory with hallowed associa- 
tions. And if we have been permitted to build homes of 
our own, it is that we might perpetuate this influence and 
transfer all that was holy and blest to our own hearths. 
Who lends more efficient service to perpetuate what is best 
and most precious in the memories of earth than the church 
of the living God ? In supporting the church, therefore, we 
are supporting the faithful guardian of morals and religion 
in the family, and in the community, and in the state, and 
in the world. 

"I love thy church, O God! 
Her walls before Thee stand 
Dear as the apple of thine eye, 
And graven on thy hand. 

"For her my tears shall fall; 
For her my prayers ascend ; 
To her my cares and toils be given, 
Till toils and cares shall end. 

" Beyond my highest joy 

I prize her heavenly ways, 
Her sweet communion, solemn vows, 
Her hymns of love and praise. 

" Sure as thy truth shall last, 
To Zion shall be given 
The brightest glories earth can yield 
And brighter bliss of heaven." 



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